When Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber created their legendary musical about Eva Peron, the beautiful wife of the Argentinian dictator Juan Peron, they had no idea it would prove such a hit. Now it's playing a strictly limited 12 week run at the Phoenix Theatre this summer, following on the heels of Gary Barlow’s wonderful The Girls.

The remarkable Emma Hatton stars as Peron herself, who tragically died at age 33 of cancer. The Argentinian people were thrown into an orgy of grief at her passing and three million of them attended her Buenos Aires funeral. Hatton is no stranger to the role, having already played Peron on tour in early 2017. You might recognise her from her role in Wicked, as well as We Will Rock You and Dreamboats and Petticoats.

It's all down to Bill Kenwright, who has organised the season in celebration of the 65th anniversary of Peron's untimely demise. As you can imagine, Argentina will also be celebrating her memory. The show reveals Eva's true story, showcasing the incredible journey that led her from very humble beginnings to her role as the beloved spiritual leader of Argentina. It tells her story through some of Rice and Lloyd Webbers' best-loved tunes including the epic 'Don't cry for me Argentina', a massive chart hit for Julie Covington back in 1977 and again for Madonna in 1996, who sang the tune in the Academy Award winning movie Evita, also starring Antonio Banderas.

This is a multi-award winner of a musical, and the many accolades it has gathered are well deserved. It has won more than 20 awards including a Tony for Best Musical. Wherever you happen to be in the world, it's probably playing somewhere near you, in some theatre or other. It scored a huge hit at the Dominion theatre in 2014, now it's back in theatreland again.

Evita is recommended for people aged ten or older, and plays at the Phoenix Theatre from 2nd August to 14th October 2017. Don't miss it!

I have seen 'Evita' many times-including when David Essex played Che many years ago!
This was an excellent performance.

JillianLondon Box Office customer

emotional

donaldLondon Box Office customer

inspired!

Having seen and much enjoyed 'Evita' in its original manifestation, this time I found it even better than I'd expected. It's such a marvellous story, yet realistically presented - Eva Perón is by no means portrayed as a saint (the inspired character Che sees to that!), yet one can both see how she came to be regarded in a saintly light by the poor and the outcast whose cause she so passionately espoused, and at the same time love her for her faults and weaknesses as much as for her virtues and strengths. Dipping into Wikipedia's long article on the life of the real Eva Perón suggests Lloyd Weber's and Tim Rice's work to be admirably true to historical fact, and inspires one to read the published biographies on whose material Wiki draws. I strongly recommend seeing it, and hope its run will be extended - I for one would go again!

MerielLondon Box Office customer

Not to be missed

JacquelineLondon Box Office customer

À great show

NAJLALondon Box Office customer

Evita again

Having seen this a few times over the years my wife and I were just glad to be out in London and what a great surprise it was. The performance captivated us right from the start, it was a strong opening, we loved it all the way through. We were playing the music the next day when walking through Regents Park.
Really nice theatre and loved the whole experience.

PenelopeLondon Box Office customer

Great

IgorLondon Box Office customer

A fantastic musical

AnitaLondon Box Office customer

Evita rises again

EricLondon Box Office customer

Powerful singing

GrahamLondon Box Office customer

Not to miss

ManosLondon Box Office customer

Excellent production!

JohnLondon Box Office customer

Fantastic

Show was fantastic, some problems with the audio - popping and drop outs

RobertLondon Box Office customer

Big smile on my face

Absolutely fantastic experience from the moment of walking up, very helpful and friendly front of house staff. We were offered a free upgrade and blessed with incredible seats. The cast were fantastic and so talented, very engaging and I didn't want t to end. I absolutely loved it

JenniferLondon Box Office customer

extremely enjoyable

AmrikLondon Box Office customer

I cannot stop singing since the show

I saw the movie with Madonna several years ago. It was a great experience and a sentimental journey to see the show again, in the theatre

AnetaLondon Box Office customer

real monumental show

IrinaLondon Box Office customer

amazing

staging music

patriciaLondon Box Office customer

tango time

the show was brilliant but the seating was a little unusual. I was sat right behind the person in front who was about six foot two. Usually the seats are staggered so that you look between the shoulders of the people in front not the back of someones head?

alanLondon Box Office customer

The actress featuring as Evita had a very powerful voice.

RichardLondon Box Office customer

Thumbs up for Evita but thumbs down for Marti!

Good show overall with excellent performances apart from Mart Pellow's singing which was not on a par with the rest of the cast!

AlanLondon Box Office customer

evita

johnLondon Box Office customer

Intense Evita

Evita is a very intense and gripping musical. The singing was fantastic and it was a very professional musical. Unless you know the story it might be hard to follow. We had good seats with no restrictions on the view. Limited showing, so those who like 'serious' musicals it is a must see.

RayLondon Box Office customer

Was too hot

Was too hot nearly fell asleep

MickLondon Box Office customer

Good musical

MariaLondon Box Office customer

brilliant show no hassle will come again well done.

mrs carol robinson from yorkshireLondon Box Office customer

Evita was spellbinding

The cast were very good, wonderful voices and excellent sets. I did not know the story of Evita until I bought the programme but you were lead easily through the story.

DianneLondon Box Office customer

production was very disappointing

vimLondon Box Office customer

Evita

Superb from beginning to the end. A great and easy to follow musical and first class cast,

MartinLondon Box Office customer

Deafened by screaming

The first half volume of the music was so loud it distorted the singing. The delay to the second half due to safety curtain failure did not help the show

JeffLondon Box Office customer

It could have been better

If I am honest, I have to say that Evita was too old and Marti Pellow was not right for the Che character. Senior Magalde was fab and the sets were great. That’s my summary!
Need some oil for the safety curtain mechanism!

LisaLondon Box Office customer

An average musical, I was a bit disappointed. The sound effects where far too loud during the show.

Producer Bill Kenwright’s rather elegant production of the classic Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita is headed black to the West End and it's going to be much better than the last time.

How can I be so sure? Well there are two very good reasons. The first is that the most recent revival was at the cavernous Dominion Theatre, a huge place the saps most shows of any personality - although not the current show An American in Paris, which is an absolute delight from beginning to end and which you should definitely try and catch.

Evita, the musical about Eva Peron and her rise to Argentine political marvel has been around the world several times since it’s premiere back in 1978. The show has made its creators, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice, firm leaders in the cutthroat world of musical theatre and made them a small fortune in the process.